Chapter IV

The Sohma family and Tohru ran through the forest looking for her, shouting her name trying to get her to come back. Upon her transformation, Scar felt her anger leave her and felt very embaressed about her outburst and almost giving away the secret she had told Akito she wouldn't. She grabbed her clothes with her beak and flew up and into Tohru's room sitting on her bed waiting to transform back. Scar curled up into a ball and felt sorry for herself and stupid at casuing so much trouble, she knew that at any moment she would have accidently transformed into something much worse if her anger continued like that and was glad that Tohru had intervened when she did. Scar sighed and looked out of the window seeing the others still looking for her she didn't even notice when she changed back and dressed slowly, wanting Tohru to come upstairs already so she could aplologise. She sat back down on the bed and looked out of the window, and she knew she was alone so let the tears that she knew were bursting to come out, flow freely and before she knew it, again she was asleep, curled up on Tohru's pillow.

* * *

"Scar-chan?" Scar heard the tenative voice call her name and sat up, her face feeling slightly sticky from the tears that she had cried earlier. Tohru sat down next to her and smiled softly at her.

"We were very worried about you, are you OK?" Scar sat up and nodded, still feeling really embaressed about her earlier outburst.

"I'm sorry Tohru, I don't know what came over me, I wanted to get some agression out of my system and I heard that all of the Zodiac were trained in martial arts. I needed to get it out of my system and fighting half hearted people at a dojo wouldn't have cut it. I've ruined your day haven't I?" Tohru held her hands up and shook her head.

"No! Of course you haven't Scar-chan! We were all just so worried about you! I'm just glad your safe, how long have you been up here?" Scar flopped down onto Tohru's lap, wanting her to play with her hair again.

"I don't know, a while I guess, I must have fell asleep." She said, feeling guilty for having worried people. Tohru began to play with her hair softly stroking and runnng her fingers through it.

"Well as long as your feeling better now. Are you hungry Scar-chan? I can fix up some lunch if you like?" Scar shook her head happy to have someone stroke her it made her happy.

"It's OK Tohru-chan...I just want to stay here wih you for a while is that OK?" She asked feeling almost worried that Tohru would leave her alone. The change of honerific was not missed on Tohru who smiled softly stroking her hair still, like she was a pet.

"That's fine Scar-chan." A small smile played around her features as Scar snuggled further into Tohru's lap, feeling safe. They stayed in that position for a long time until Momiji knocked on the door and Tohru looked to Scar for confirmation to let him in. Scar nodded that it was fine.

"Tohru we couldn't- Scar-chan?! YAY YOUR SAFE!!" Momiji jumped up and sat next to her holding her hand.

"I was so worried Scar-chan! I couldn't find you anywhere! I searched all over the forest but I couldn't see you and I've just came back in to tell Tohru the sad news but here you are! I'm so glad we sent Tohru back to wait for you incase you showed up! Are you OK? Your not still mad at Kyo-kun are you?" Scar stoked his head and smiled happily at the happy go lucky Momiji.

"No, I'm fine I'm sorry I ran away and got mad earlier, I didn't mean to make you waste your day looking for me." Momiji beamed up at her and sat infront of her.

"It's OK! I was just worried, but I'm glad your here! Do you want to play a game with me and Haru? Tohru your invited to play too! So's everyone!" Scar stretched out ad bit and sat up looking at Tohru with a smile.

"That sound's like fun, Tohru you want to play too?" Tohru looked thoughtful for a minute before answering.

"Well, I have to make lunch, how about I join in after?" Momiji nodded enthusiastically and grabbed Scar's arm and dragged her away. Scar turned and gave Tohru a wide grin before Momiji dragged her out of the door. Momiji turned and smiled to her.

"You know, with all that cuddling you and Tohru do Kyo's going to get jealous!" Momiji giggled and Scar grinned, this was a bit too much fun to pass up. She quickly changed the subject so Momiji had no idea what she was planning.

"So what game is it?" Momiji was skipping alongside her as they walked down the stairs.

"Truth and dare." Scar stopped dead and looked at Momiji.

"Really?! But isn't that game a little umm...dangerous?" Momiji didn't seem to get what she was hinting at and frowned.

"Well, I don't think anyone would dare you to do anything dangerous, Scar-chan." Scar shook her head just remembering to avoid the dangers of truth.

"Alright then, lets go Momiji." momiji grinned again and contiued dragging scar into the living room where the others were sat a worried look on their faces.

"Look who I found!" They turned at Momiji's voice and looked happily at everyone.

"I'm sorry I worried you all, please forgive me?" Kyo glared at her and turned his head away.

"Of course Scar-chan, were just glad your safe!" Shigure smiled and put his paper down, Scar looked guiltily at them all and rubbed her arms.

"I'm sorry Kyo, I didn't mean to say mean things to you, I don't think your stupid. I was just angling for a fight and I knew you wouldn't hit a girl so I baited you and I shouldn't have. Please forgive me?" Kyo looked at her sincere eyes and he blushed slightly.

"Yeah well, don't do it again. If you want a fight, I'll fight you but don't take it so far OK?!" He half yelled at her, but the blush adorning his features showed he wasn't too mad with her. She smiled and sat down.

"So according to Momiji him and Haru are playing truth and dare, anyone else want to play?" Shigure removed his reading glasses and smiled raising his hand in the air.

"Me! Me!!" Scar laughed.

"How old are you?!" Shigure paused for a moment and sang,

"Young enough to know and old enough not to care!" Scar scoffed and lightly tapped him on his arm.

"I'm 17 and I say that!" She giggled with him and Kyo 'Humphed'.

"I don't want to play it's a kids game." Scar nodded and looked at Yuki.

"Yuki? Come on it'll be fun!" Yuki smiled at her enthusiasm.

"I don't know...is Honda-san playing?" Scar smiled at him and saw Kyo give him a sideways jealous glance.

"Oui! She said she wants to make some lunch and then she'll join in, I think it'd be fun personally!" Shigure's phone rang at that point and he rushed to answer it in the other room. She grinned at Haru and he half smiled.

"You won't let me down will you Haru?" Haru gave her a knowing sort of look.

"Of course I won't, and besides, Momiji asked me to play earlier so I can't refuse now can I?" Scar grinned at him.

"I suppose not, so Yuki is that a yes?" Yuki smiled at her pushing and nodded slightly.

"Alright then Fléau-sama. Are we starting now?" Scar nodded and they all gathered round the table diligently.

"So how are we doing this then? Someone has a turn and then the person who they asked asks someone else?" Momiji asked and looked towards Haru for confirmation that he had done OK.

"Yes, that sounds good, who wants to start?" Haru looked around the table. Yuki smiled and gestured back towards Momiji, resting his hands behind him.

"Momiji should go first, seeing as it was his idea." Momiji grinned and stood up bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Hmm...OK then, I'll pick..um...Shigure! Shigure, truth or dare?" Shigure pondered for a moment, then a devilish gleam came into his eyes as he answered.

"Dare." Momiji scrunched up his brow and turned to Haru and started whispering, Haru also whispered to him and finally a look of glee spread across Momiji's face and he turned triumphantly to Shigure.

"We dare you to drink two bottles of your sake and share the rest with us!" Scar, whose hand had been resting on her chin looked a little shocked at this one and turned to Shigure who didn't even look surprised and stood retriving 5 bottles of sake and 6 small cups. He began pouring everyone a shot and brought a bottle to his lips and began gulping down the clear liquid as everyone watched in awe. Scar grinned and picked up her glass, some attention was directed at her as she raised the glass to Shigure, who had stopped for a quick breath.

"Not to be outdone." With those last words she raised her cup to her lips and shot back the alcohol, feeling the warmth spread in her throat and run down into her body. Scar grinned and helped herself to the bottle topping her drink up. She turned towards Kyo who looked a little disgusted by the drinking and stuck her tongue out at him playfully.

"Wassup pussums? Scared of a little drink?" Kyo glared and picked up his cup and copied Scar taking the shot back. He spluttered slightly and coughed but kept a strong composure and slammed the glass down onto the table.

"As if!" I can handle my alcohol!" Scar grinned and turned to Shigure who was halfway through his second bottle, looking slightly trashed already. She giggled and sat up on her knees and riased her glass to Haru.

"Thank you Haru for some good entertainment!" She shot back the cup again and started to feel the effects, dulling her senses. Haru smirked and took his shot too. Momiji looked a little confused and then picked up his glass tentatively and dipping his tongue in.

"Blergh! This stuff doesn't taste that nice!" Scar giggled and leant over smoothing Momijis honey locks.

"It's not supposed to taste nice chérie, just shot it and try not to let it touch your tongue OK?" Momiji had a set look on his face as he did as instructed and drank his shot. He let out a giant sigh and giggled as he turned to Haru.

"Haru my hands feel really warm, are they warm?" He began placing his hands on Harus face which sent Scar into giggles as she poured him another shot. She turned to Yuki who was looking at them all disdainfully.

"Were minors we shouldn't be drinking." Scar moved over to Yuki and grinned.

"According to law, your allowed to drink in your own home if an adult provides you with alcohol. So drink up chérie, theres nothing illigal about what were doing." Yuki looked reluctant and looked sideways at Scar then turned his eyes to the giggling Momiji.

"Fine, but I don't want to get drunk." Scar nodded and watched as Yuki skillfully took his shot and unlike the others he didn't splutter or complain about the taste but a few seconds after Scar had refilled his glass he hiccuped. Scar giggled and ruffled his hair playfully before returning to her spot. Shigure slammed his second bottle onto the table and turned to Scar.

"Scar-channn! Truth or dare?!" He sang to her and she giggled taking another shot before replying.

"Dare!!" Shigure grinned and hekd his chin and tried to look thoughtful.

"I dare you to do the can-can! You are french afterall, its one of the things your famous for!" Scar rolled her eyes and stood up.

"Were famous for something else actually...can you guess what?" She turned a mischevious eye onto Shigure who merely grinned in response. She stood up and turned to Shigure,

"You know the sort of music right? Just bang on the table." She flicked her hair off her shoulders and watched as Shigure began to tap his hands on the wooden surface and she began kicking her legs up in a steady rythem, she giggled and felt happier then she had done in a while and when he reached the end of his musical tapping she grabbed her leg and held it up next to her head.

"Tada!" Shigure applauded enthusiastically which started off Momiji and the others as Scar rested her leg back down and plonked herself into her spot taking another shot which someone had kindly refilled for her.

"How can you get your leg up like that Scar-chan?" Momiji asked with childlike awe playing across his features. She smiled and looked away abit thoughtfully before answering.

"I used to do gymnastics, all my family did, its where we learnt how to fight. Start gymnastics at 4, then at 8 when your deemed flexible enough you can begin learning Danse Noir, which is our families self taught martial art, handed down through generations. You finish learning at about 16 but continue training throughout your life! There's a little bit of info for ya!" She exclaimed happily, hunting for the bottle, wanting another shot. Kyo slammed down his 4th shot turned an accusing finger at her.

"So thats where you learned how to fight! I didn't recognise the style but it was good! We should fight again!" Scar's face brightened and she nodded enthusiastically,

"Yeah! Oh wow, we really should! This time we can finish it and I can win against you!" Kyo and her playfully argued between shots for the next couple of rounds of the game, by the end of which most were beligerently drunk and Momiji was doing an adorable impression of a christmas elf whilst Yuki still was recovering from Scars hair question she had asked Haru, which he decided to prove infront of the whole table, whilst erect, why he was a erect was a mystery to all of them. Shigure's kimono had fallen haphazerdly around his shoulders after doing a hilarious crab impression whilst drinking a shot, to which Scar was still chuckling fondly at. Then Tohru walked in and things went a little wrong from then onwards.